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Oceania champions Hekari get huge backing, says coach

ABU DHABI - Hekari United assistant coach Tommy Mana said that Papua New Guinea and the whole of Oceania will be backing them in their FIFA Club World Cup campaign.

The Oceania champions lock horns with UAE Pro-League champions Al Wahda in the opening fixture of the FIFA Club World Cup which begins in the capital at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium on Wednesday. The FIFA Club World Cup is the most prestigious tournament in international club football, bringing together the champion clubs from each of the six continental confederations: Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America and Oceania, as well as the 2010 winner of the UFL. Played annually, the winning team is crowned Club World Champion, a title currently held by FC Barcelona.

Abu Dhabi had also hosted the tournament in 2009. This year marks the final year of competition in Abu Dhabi before the tournament returns to Japan in 2011.

Seven teams will compete over the course of eight matches for a prize fund of $16.5 million, with the champions earning $5 million.

“Papua New Guinea and the whole Oceania group are behind us,” Mana said on Monday.

Hekari will be up against the home team which has a massive following in the capital. “Al Wahda will be playing at home. It has been really hard to find out about Al Wahda’s playing style. We are still getting information about them,” said Mana.

Meanwhile Hekari United’s Andrew Lepani said that taking part in the Club World Cup means a lot to them. “The chairman and manager founded the club and they are the ones who had a dream to take the club from the island nations to the Club World Cup. I know it means a lot to them and to the players as well,” Lepani said.

Lepani said that Hekari United would look to go a notch better than last year’s Oceania representative Auckland City FC. Auckland City FC finished fifth in last year’s edition. “Last year, we watched Auckland City FC perform and finish fifth and then we watched New Zealand in the World Cup. Now, we represent the Oceania region and it is up to us to take it a step further and win a few matches. Papua New Guinea’s national sport is rugby, but like everywhere in the world, we also play football. We will have seven million people watching the Club World Cup. We know not only Papua New Guinea, but the whole Oceania group will be behind us,” he said.